Psychotherapist John Gagnon, convicted felon and registered sex offender, arrested again, bizarre criminal history

June 2, 2010

A Connecticut psychotherapist with criminal sex and drug convictions has been arrested yet again, this time on a probation violation.

Stamford psychotherapist John H. Gagnon was arrested last week for having weapons despite being a convicted felon, was arrested again Monday for violating conditions of his probation.

Gagnon was picked up during a scheduled visit to his probation officer and taken to state Superior Court in Stamford, where he was arraigned on the new charge and ordered by Judge William Wenzel held in lieu of $15,000 bond.

Gagnon, 63, of 233 Oaklawn Ave., Stamford, who was on probation from a 2008 marijuana possession charge, could now face up to one year in jail.

Gagnon's defense attorney Stephan Seeger said Monday's arrest at his probation office was unnecessary. He said the probation office could have given him notice and allowed Gagnon to turn himself in.

Seeger said Gagnon just paid a bondsman to get him out of jail on a $100,000 bond for the firearms charge on Thursday.

The attorney said Gagnon's criminal record is being used against him.

In 1987, Gagnon was arrested for wearing a silver badge and driving a car that appeared to be an unmarked police car outfitted with a red flashing light.

He pulled a woman over with an expired temporary registration in Brookfield and told her he would let her go if the two had sex, according to the appellate court decision that upheld his convictions. Gagnon then grabbed the woman's breasts, the documents said. The woman put her car in gear and sped off.

Soon after this incident, a Danbury police lieutenant looking at a composite sketch identified Gagnon as the suspect. The lieutenant knew him because Gagnon, at the time, was a Danbury psychotherapist who volunteered with the department's Hostage Negotiation Unit and also was hired as a consultant, the appellate decision said.

Gagnon was convicted of criminal impersonation and third-degree sexual assault. As a result of the felony conviction, he has a lifetime listing on the state's Sex Offender Registry.

Also, in 2004, a patient made a police complaint about Gagnon wearing a general's uniform while giving therapy. Gagnon, who was not in the Army or a general, was charged with unauthorized use of a uniform and, a year later, pleaded no contest to the charge.

Gagnon's recent firearms arrest stemmed from a probation officer visit to his home on May 13.

Inside the house police found two replica antique pistols. According to his arrest warrant affidavit, the weapons are .44 caliber black powder pistols.

Gagnon is to return to court on June 23.

Source: John Nickerson, "Stamford psychotherapist arrested again," Stamford Advocate, May 24, 2010.